ISSUE

07
April 19th 2013

A Fortnightly Newsletter from St Patricks School In Waimate. The best little Special Character School in South Canterbury

St Patricks Waimate
this issue
ANZAC Poems P.1 ANZAC Memorials P.2 Local Stories P.3 Notices P.4 ANZAC Connections P.5 Supporters and Advertisers P.6

ANZAC commemorations in and around Waimate

Dawn Ceremony 7:00am Victoria Park Memorial Gates There will be a firing party at this service. 8.45am St Andrews at War Memorial 10.00am Main Service at Waimate High School Hall Returned personnel are invited to meet outside at 9.50am. Medals to be worn. Public are asked to be seated by 9.50am. Parade to Memorial Clock after the service for laying of wreaths. 1.30pm Waihao Forks Hotel Teds Bottle
-------------------------------------------

A selection of ANZAC writing from the Senior room.

ANZAC POEM There were lots of people that died and lots tried There were lots of guns and lots of sons Some were crying and some were dying Soldiers were driving and others were surviving The army had tanks and others had planks The army served and we conserved

By Blake

I don't understand Why they're so stupid to kill and get killed Why they start a war for things like power Why the people in the office cause the wars But most of all, Why they don't become friends Why the army fights for land and people Why they fight to the death What I do understand is Why they go in the army, Why they help people with life Why they protected their countries.

By Gabriel Van Royen

Why do we have stupid wars when people get killed and it makes their families mad and sad. In the war there were people with guns and people with flies all other their faces. I wish they had tanks to kill those turkeys that were smerky. By Makayla Massey

Birthdays to be celebrated
Makeyla Massey April 27th Mr Kemp April 26th.

1914-1918 For our glorious Dead

Taken from the 1923 memorial gates at Victoria Park

E. Julian Nurse Brown H. Julian Nurse Fox Nurse Gorman R.D. Kearton W. Kelly S. Adamson J.W.F. Kempton G.A. Allfrey T. Leal A.J. Attewell A. Lindsay L.J. Baker E.C. Loper S. Ballagh H.A. Lucas R. Ballantyne E.J. Bannerman W. Luck P. McAllister C.C. Barclay E.F. McCarthy N. Baxter D.M. McDonald J. Bean L. McFarlane N.M. Bell D.R. McKenzie S.F. Bell J. McLeish W. Benson R. McRae A. E. Berry G.R. Mahoney A.G. Bird W. Manson J. Black J. B. Marsh W.B. Bowles G. Marshall W. Brass F.G. Marshall W.S. Brien F.D. Maurice J. Briggs W.B. Menzie R.E. Briggs E.O. Bringans W.R. Menzie E.J. Mercer G.A. Brown T. Mitchell B. Buckley J. R. Campbell G.M. Morgan Jas. Campbell J. Morrison Jos. Campbell C. Morton J. Morton L. Campbell L.A. Carmichael J.C. Munro W. Nichol E.M. Carr R. Norrie Jos. Carr P. Norris O.P. Carr W. Noster J. Carson H.L. Park T.J. Chalmers H.S. Paul C.P. Chamberlain B. Pelvin T. Claridge G.A. Pelvin A.P. Clark W. Penny W.T. Clear T. Peneamene J. Cochrane L.N. Pollard C.W. Cogdale A. Quigley C. Coltman S. Reid E.T. Corry H. Richard J. Crone A. Cruickshank E.A. Rickman G.I. Cuthertson J.H. Rogers W.G. Russell I.J. Davis J.A. Scott J. Dodd J. Shefford H. Douglas S.A. Shirley A. Dunn F.T. Simpson P.D. Dunn J. Englebrecht L. Simpson L. Sinclair J. Fitzgerald H. Sole J. Fogarty C. Sprott M. Foley J. Fotheringham L. Stewart W.G. Stewart E. Garland R. H. G. Storey P.G. Geary W. Tavendale M. Gibson G. Taylor J.T. Gill A. H. Walker J. Gynes H.M. Wall P.J. Gynes W.H.D. White T. Haynes G. Wilce T. Hazelton H. Wilds H. Head W. Wilks T. Heap F. Wills W.F. Hutt E.D. Wilson A. Ironside M.W.G. Jackson G.L. Wilson G.H. Wood H.P. Jacobs T.F. York

We have learned about the bravery of our Anzacs and about the stupidity of the politicians that sent them away to war.
Our poems reflect what we think about war.
From the Kemal Ataturk Memorial in Gallipoli -"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives... you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours... You the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears. Your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace. After having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
This memorial, commissioned by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey and the Turkish commander at Gallipoli, recognises the sacrifices that both sides made at Gallipoli and endeavours to ease the pain for the families that lost sons and daughters there. True to his word, ANZAC war graves are maintained as well as any Turkish graves. Shrines to the fallen sons of both sides exist

Waimate has a long and proud tradition of service to Queen and country and many sons and daughter of Waimate have served on foreign shores. Sadly, many remain there.

Patrick: His grandfather, Leslie Robert Kemp, (above centre) served in J-Force as a medic and in K-Force as a driver. Patrick also has two cousins currently serving in the New Zealand Defence Force
Also In memory of Trooper ALFRED WHITNEY, 7th NZ Contingent who fell in the memorable night attack at Bothasberg, Transvaal 23 February 1902. And in honour of the 74 volunteers from this district who nobly responded to the call of their Queen and Country.

War is stupid
War is stupid! All you do is fight. Why kill and wound? Kids cry because their dad died. I cry watching people die. Politicians should fight. Being on a battlefield fighting a battle makes me shiver. Big guns explode and kill hundreds. Destruction is everywhere I look. Bombs explode. Parts of people go flying. When there is a boom a new crater forms. Dead and wounded people lie everywhere. People fire guns all around. That is why people hate war.
Brianna Wood

ANZAC Connections
The tentacles of war reach down through the passages of time and there are not too many students that dont have some links to service personnel, past and present. The following are just some of the connections that we could make, without digging too deeply. (The accuracy and veracity of some of these facts may be open to interpretation, but they are retold as the individuals know them). Matauranga: His great-granddad served in both world wars. In WW1 he was a sniper. In WW2 he was a sergeant. Hannah: Her step-dad served in the navy and has 6 medals. Mrs Suddaby: Albert Tracy Gubb was a stretcher bearer. He also has 5 medals. Father Brian: His dad was in World War 2. He served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). Morgan: Her great-granddad served in WW1. Her other great-granddad was a lorry driver in the Korean War, where he was captured and made a prisoner of war. Seraphina: Her uncle served in the army and then quit at the age of 28.

I dont understand
I don't understand Why we fight,
Why we kill, Why we invade. But most of all, I dont understand why we need more Why were not friends, Why we don't make friends. What I do understand is Why we protect our own country Why we have an army, Why we protect our families.

Eric Batchelor, DCM & Bar

Eric Batchelor, DCM & Bar (29 August 1920 10 July 2010) was a New Zealand soldier who was twice awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous bravery in Italy during World War II. He was the only New Zealand soldier of just nine British Commonwealth soldiers during the World War II to receive the DCM and bar. He was also Mentioned in despatches, and fought at El Alamein in Egypt. Eric Batchelor was born at Waimate and educated at Waimate Main School. He joined 5th Reinforcements in 1941. He later served with 23 NZ Battalion in North Africa and Italy. He also took part in the battles of Monte Cassino. He was twice wounded. Batchelor's first DCM was awarded for gallantry, while in command of a forward platoon, during a fierce close quarter fight in a small house behind German lines at San Donato, on 21 July 1944, in the advance to Florence. He was awarded his second DCM for gallantry, while serving as a platoon sergeant in a forward company, during an assault on Celle, south-west of Faenza in Italy, on 14 December 1944. He was demobilised in 1946. Mr Batchelor later ran a taxi business then a delicatessen and after that a wine shop. Eric Batchelor died in his hometown of Waimate in New Zealand on 10 July 2010

By Patrick Kemp.

Memorials and Local stories

War Memorial Clock, Queen Street, Waimate This monument is in honour of the men of the Waimate County and Borough who died in the Second World War. The clock itself had adorned the Waimate Post Office Building since 1912, but was placed in storage in1947. It was relocated to the front of the Waimate District Council on Remembrance Day 1956. There are 91 names on the memorial stone.

New Zealand soldiers earn a fierce reputation

Comments from students:

Why didnt the people in the offices (politicians) go and fight? Why did everyone have to go and shoot each other? What were they all fighting about? The Unfinished Drink The Ted D'Auvergne Story "The bottle of beer remains on the shelf for the soldier that would never return." Ted D'Auvergne was invited by the publican, George Provan, of the Waihao Forks Pub, to have a farewell drink, and when the train whistled George put a bottle on the shelf saying "We'll have this one, Ted, when you come home again." Ted was on final leave from Burnham Training Camp before heading overseas in January 1940. He never came back and he now lies buried in a Crete cemetery, his name added to the long roll of honour of those who died in the service of their country. Very few of his relatives are still in the Waimate and Timaru districts. "No one really remembers the exact story now, and it has gone into folk lore." Whatever is the truth, the bottle was left on the shelf for Ted and he will not be forgotten. Why didnt the soldiers say no? Why did they kill each other just because they were from different countries?

An excerpt from the song And the band played Waltzing Matilda by June Tabor.
Check it out on Youtube by searching for the song title above.
For I'll go no more waltzing Matilda, all around the green bush far and free To hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs-no more waltzing Matilda for me. So they gathered the crippled, the wounded, the maimed, and they shipped us back home to Australia. The legless, the armless, the blind, the insane, those proud wounded heroes of Suvla And as our ship pulled into Circular Quay, I looked at the place where me legs used to be. And thanked Christ there was nobody waiting for me, to grieve, to mourn, and to pity. But the band played Waltzing Matilda, as they carried us down the gangway. But nobody cheered, they just stood and stared, then they turned all their faces away And so now every April, I sit on me porch, and I watch the parades pass before me. And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march, reviving old dreams of past glories And the old men march slowly, old bones stiff and sore. They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war And the young people ask, what are they marching for? And I ask myself the same question. But the band plays Waltzing Matilda, and the old men still answer the call, But as year follows year, more old men disappear. Someday no one will march there at all. Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda, who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me? And their ghosts may be heard as they march by that billabong, who'll come a-waltzing Matilda with me?

Notices

St Patricks School Boards of Trustees Election

Nominations are invited for the election of 5 parent representatives to the Board of Trustees. A nominations form and a notice calling for nominations will be posted to all eligible voters. Additional nomination forms can be obtained from the school office. Nominations close at noon on 16th May 2013 and may be accompanied by a signed candidates statement. The voting roll is open for inspection at the school and can be viewed during normal school hours. There will also be a list of candidates names, as they come to hand, for inspection at the school. Voting closes at noon on 30th May 2013. Jess Bailey Returning Officer

This special ANZAC edition edited and compiled by The Senior Students at St Patricks School: Mitchell, Laney, Makeyla, Patrick, Caitlin and David

Preferred Suppliers, Advertisers and Supporters

Reg Veitch

Caf on Queen
Caf and Wine Bar Open 7 days 25 Queen Street Ph: (03) 689 6010
ULTIMATE SACRIFICE:
World War II pilot Reg Veitch's war medals will be worn by his great-nephew in this year's Waimate Anzac Day parade almost 70 years after he died when his Lancaster bomber crashed in Germany. The story of the Lancaster bomber pilot serving with the Royal Air Force came to light a couple of years ago with the discovery of a letter from a former crew member. The family found the letter very moving, especially because they had learnt Reg had chosen to continue flying the burning bomber to give his crew time to parachute from the plane. The family shared that story with The Timaru Herald, and this Anzac Day they will publish a follow-up which draws together the Veitch family, a young German "treasure hunter", and a Canadian family .

Breakfasts Lunches Evening Meals Consult us for all your special occasion catering

ADVERTISING If you are looking for an advertising opportunity that would put your business specifically in front of most of the Catholic Families in this area, and beyond, give us a call. Rates are generous and there are a minimum of 20 issues per year. We can use your own logo and media, or we can get our students to create a unique design for you. All advertisers get free coverage via our school website. St Patricks Waimate PO Box 53 WAIMATE office@st-pats.co.nz ph:036898584 Fax:036898784

St Patricks Newsletter 1 issue per fortnight.

Advertising space available. Contact office@st-pats.co.nz